On August 15th, girls from the Ed Snider Youth Hockey Foundation’s 12-year-old and 14-year-old teams demonstrated how their talents are not just limited to the rink, but they extend to off the ice as well–in the form of forest cleanup! They joined us at our Croydon Woods Nature Preserve, where they split into two teams. One team tackled trash pickup along Summit Avenue while the other cut back Japanese Honeysuckle, swapping tasks halfway through their time with us. In an hour and a half, the 13 students and their 5 chaperones collected 22 bags of trash! This mostly came in the form of beer bottles, but small car parts and even a toilet tank top were included amongst the rubbish.

After the hard work was finished, Heritage Conservancy staff members sat with the group in the pavilion for lunch and discussed environmentally-focused careers.

The goal of Snider Hockey goes beyond the net. Says Mubarak Lawrence, who helped organize the day, “As the Career Development Coordinator, I want students to gain exposure to professional pathways and opportunities available to them after high school and/or college.” This, partnered with the belief that it is imperative for student athletes to learn the importance of giving back to their communities, showcase how Snider Hockey uses the sport to create a lasting impact, both to the athletes it conditions and to the surrounding community.

We look forward to seeing them again in the future!